Now that contractors have begun improvement plans in Auburn's downtown, City Manager Mark Palesh suggested the Auburn City Council consider replacing parking meters with kiosks in certain areas.

"I'm not someone who wants to do a project just to go back a year later and rip it out," Palesh said. "The first thing out of taxpayers' mouths is why didn't you do that in the first place."

For $90,000, the city can purchase 10 kiosks. For each kiosk, the city could remove nine or 10 meters from the curb.

During the discussion, councilor Thomas McNabb voiced some concern about the idea of spending that amount of money to replace meters that function properly.

Auburn Police Chief Gary Giannotta reminded council that if they did decide to order the kiosks, city employees could then replace older models with the surplus devises.

Tony Piccolo, president of Auburn Downtown Business Improvement District, said he supported the concept but would broach the subject Wednesday to the whole BID membership.

"I think we should go forward with it. it would clean up downtown," Piccolo said.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's edition of The Citizen